Jackassalope

My Brain Is Growing

Mr. Eric Strahl along with myself decided to delve into the supreme task of trying to watch AFI’s top 100 movies of all time last year; AFI stands for “American Film Institute” for all of you who aren’t well versed in the ways of cinema, or if you’re just not a freakin’ nerd. At first this mission seamed simple enough, but the realization sank in after I watched 1915s “Birth of a Nation,” and one of the longest movies ever made, “Dr Zhivago,” that it was not going to be a walk in the park. To make matters worse, after I was three quarters of the way through the list, AFI came out with an updated version. Roughly 30 films were replaced with new ones, thus extending my task to watching the top 130 movies of all time.

I have to admit that even for a movie buff some of these films were hard to get through. But for every dud that was placed on the list because of its historical relevance, there were true gems that I thoroughly enjoyed. “Rear Window” and “Citizen Kane” were among these great older films that are definitely worth watching.

I caught a lucky break in June when I found myself unemployed and eager to be productive. Of course I was also molding a young mind at the time (raising my daughter), but if I was going to experience the full breadth of the list in a reasonable amount of time, I had to get my priorities straight. I must admit, my daughter now has seen more classic films than your average 40-year-old. Too bad she won’t remember it.

Now, after 8 months of watching movies, moving across the country, and working odd jobs, I’m anxious to enjoy the last six films on my list. It will be a momentous occasion worthy of much celebration. Not to mention I will be able to look down upon all those who are not as smart as me. I will laugh at their ignorance and relish in my wealth of vast cinema knowledge. Then I will move on to the task of drinking a bottle of wine from every vineyard in Oregon, then the west coast, and finally the world. I welcome the challenge.